New Coach, New Approach at Mission Viejo : Prep football: Former Laguna Hills assistant Spalding brings resourcefulness to Diablos.

Marty Spalding is a man of many means.

Long-time friends have seen him build, create and invent just about anything he has had a need for.

Spalding has designed his own weight set, developed his own computer system, and is now remodeling his house.

Laguna Hills High Principal Wayne Mickaelian, knew Spalding when he coached the Hawks’ offensive and defensive lines in 1991 and ’92. He recalled a story about Spalding that offered insight into the determined nature of the man who took over as Mission Viejo’s head coach last spring.

Spalding was on vacation in the Caribbean with his wife, Pam. They rented a sailboat for an eight-day trip in unfamiliar seas. Spalding, who barely knew the bow from the stern, had a heated argument with the guide who was to accompany them.

Goodby guide. Good luck Spalding.

“He didn’t know how to sail, but he did it anyway,” Mickaelian said. “That’s the way he is. He’s task-oriented. Once he starts a project, he’s going to finish it.”

But can he find smooth sailing, even success, at Mission Viejo, where the football coaching staff hasn’t always found the waters calm?

Spalding, who oozed confidence throughout the selection process that the job would be his, was eager to give it a try.

“I’m a project-oriented, goal-setting guy,” said Spalding, who was named to succeed Mike Rush on May 4, two months after Rush resigned under pressure. “Mission Viejo is the standard of excellence as far as football is concerned. This was a golden opportunity to be a part of that. I wanted to see if I could take over the traditions in all those areas.”

The nine-member committee that selected him thought so too. Robert Metz, a panel member and Mission Viejo principal, thought several qualities gave Spalding an edge over eight other candidates.

“We felt Marty had a terrific knowledge of the game,” Metz said. “One thing that stands out about him is his work ethic. He’s knowledgeable, but he’s also willing to put in the time and effort into the success of the program, which goes beyond the game. And he has a tremendous amount of skills that add to his qualities. I don’t know if people understand all of his skills.”

If anyone knows the depth of his know-how, Diablo assistant coach Bob Johnson does. Spalding was an assistant coach under Johnson for 12 years at El Toro, but their friendship started in the early 1970s, when Spalding spent six years at Canyon Country Canyon (1973-78), the last two years as head coach.

In fact, Johnson, who hasn’t coached in two years, wouldn’t have returned to coaching high school football unless it was with Spalding.

“I’m very happy for Marty,” Johnson said. “He has deserved a head coaching job for a long time. He’s well prepared.”

Johnson cited Spalding’s hands-on coaching method as one of his most effective coaching--and communication--tools.

Because head coaching duties can become so burdensome, Johnson said he will do everything within his power to make sure Spalding doesn’t lose that quality.

“It’s his biggest asset,” Johnson said. “Some coaches get to the point where they lose that. I don’t want to see that happen to Marty. He gets those linemen, the whole team, to do everything for him.”

And they did it almost immediately. It didn’t take long to win over a team that didn’t need much winning over.

Spalding was never concerned what his players would say about him. He believes kids want to learn as long as the teacher knows what he’s talking about.

“Players are interested in being taught how to play football, whether it’s from Mike Rush or Marty Spalding,” Spalding said.

When rumors were flying rampant about who would replace Rush, players were aware of at least one entry on Spalding’s resume, his long-time El Toro affiliation.

“We had heard about his reputation as being a strict disciplinarian when he was at Laguna Hills and El Toro,” said senior co-captain Mike Myers, a fullback and offensive lineman. “We were kind of nervous, because we were set in our old patterns.”

But old Diablos proved they could learn new tricks with Spalding at the helm. The players have welcomed his changes. For example, under Spalding, loafing is almost an unpardonable sin.

“They get after us more, and I like that,” Myers said. “We don’t get away with anything.”

The new coaching staff are harsh, but fair, task drivers, especially Spalding. So if anyone questions who is really in charge at Mission Viejo--critics claim Johnson is making the decisions--think again.

“Bob runs the offense, but Marty is the disciplinarian,” Myers said.

Said Johnson: “He’s (Spalding) given me a lot of things to do, but he makes the final decisions. I’m glad he’s the guy that has the final say.”

But Johnson’s addition to Mission Viejo’s program can’t be discounted, and Metz doesn’t try to.

“I have a high regard for Bob Johnson and what he has proven as a football coach,” he said. “When you have a man of his experience and quality available, you want to accommodate it when you can. The track record of the two men speaks for itself. They know what they’re doing.”

And what they’re not.

Spalding stressed that he isn’t seeking revenge, that he won’t use the Mission Viejo job to get back at El Toro for not giving him the job he felt he deserved when Johnson left.

When USC practiced at UC Irvine recently for Sunday’s Pigskin Classic, an old acquaintance he saw assumed the El Toro-Mission Viejo rivalry would take on new meaning when the teams meet Oct. 22.

“I can honestly say I never thought about that,” Spalding said. “We’ll go as hard against El Toro as anyone else, but not any more so.”

Spalding won’t predict how the Diablos will fare under the new administration, but a perfect win-loss record isn’t what his staff is about.

“The most important thing for me as a coach is to convey to the players that hard work pays dividends,” he said. “The second thing deals with the idea of having a value system that appreciates honesty and integrity.”

But all the honesty and integrity in the world won’t replace winning, which he desperately wants to do at Mission Viejo.

“Like anybody else, he likes to succeed,” Mickaelian said. “It’s more important than anything else. He’s a perfectionist.”

But no one’s expecting a team that was 5-6 last season and 7-4 in 1991 to win the South Coast League, the Southern Section and go undefeated.

“Is that the expectation, to provide miracles?” Metz asked. “That’s not mine. Mine is to prepare young people to play the game. What I want, and I know we’ll get this from the staff. They’ll have kids prepared to play the game and prepared for the rest of their lives.”

Not only on the football field, but also in the classroom, and Metz thinks Mission Viejo is getting as good a teacher as it is a coach.

Mickaelian agreed. The principal remembers Spalding treating his science students much like the football team.

“I’d walk by and hear this odd voice, the same one I’d hear on the football field,” he said. “He’s the most intense guy I’ve ever been around. He’s so focused. But he also has a special way about him that’s very unique. I think he’ll be just fine.”